Knitting method and machine



w. L. Housl-:MAN

KNITTINQMETHOD AND MACHINE Ocvt. 25, 1938..

Filed March 30, 1954 A{Sheets-Sheet l 4x7 @we-ns.

Oct. 25, 1938. w.`| HoUsEMAN l 2,134,479

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed March so, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 2 Afro/swf ya.

ocnzs, 193s.

w. L. HousEMAN 2,134,479 KNITTING MTHOD AND MACHINE Filed Maren 3o, 1954 4 sheets-sheet :s

m.. m .s V

oct.` 25, 193.15.l W, L, HOUSEMA 2,134,479

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed MaIGh 50, 1934 J 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 xx/ix A l] l Patented Oct. 25, 1938 wel? . UNITED STATES Pares T i orifice f Wilbur L; Houseman, SouthOrangaN. J assignor to Standard-Trump Bros. Machine Co., Laconia, r N. H., a. corporation of Delaware 'Application Marcil 30,1 1934.,"` serial No. 718,197

v -27 claims. This invention relates to aknitting method and machine and has particular reference to the production of selective normal and reverse plating by needle deflection. V

j In my application Ser. No. 209,383, led July 29, 1927, there is disclosed a method and machine for knitting selectively normal and reverse plated fabric. In accordance with the disclosure of said application, the needles as they l,are drawn down to drawstitches overthe sinkers are selectively left `in normal position ,or deiiected inwardly, whereby the positions ofthe yarns areY either maintained in normal relationship or are reversed, thereby giving rise to selective stitches inwhich the order of lthe'yarnsv differs. VIn accordance with said application, there are prof vided in association `with lthe Various needles pressers which'are actedupon by jacks carrying Various arrangements ofbutts, Vwhich jacks are pushed'4 inwardly when needle deflection Ais to occur in a'selective fashion depending upon'the actuation of, butt engaging levers andthe posil tions of the butts upon the jacks. v' The mechanism just referred to is perfectly adapted for the purpose of producingselective plating and reverse plating, but unless the num;

ber of butts on the jacks is increased ,tov `an objectionable extent which would not only take up an undue amount `of space, but which would give rise to objectionable lateral thruston the jacks, there is aA deiinite limit to the character of 4patterns which may beproduced. It is the broad object of the present invention vto` provide a selecting method and means for securing deilection of needlesat desired times which",` is adapted for the productionof elaborate patterns involving numerous variations in needle selection.

" Other objects ofthe invention, particularly relating to details of construction and manipulations, willr be' apparent from the following `description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic vertical section taken on i the plane indicated at I--l in Fig. 3 through aneedle cylinder and associated parts illustrate ing certain elements used in accordance with the invention; y i

i Fig.` 2 isa diagrammatic fragmentary inside development of the. needle cams and latch ring and associated parts showing theY taking of yarns by needles;

Fig. 3 `is an inside development of various needle, jack andl associated cams;

(ores-36) 1` f l Fig. Ulf-is a diagrammaticplan View vshowing certain cam controlling means; l

yFig. 5 isla horizontal section Showing controlling devices f or effecting selection;

Fig. 6 is a ragme'n'tary elevation showing the same subject matter as Fig. 5; and y Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are sections similarto Fig.w 1 ,i but taken onplan'es indicated at 1 1. 8-8 and The knitting machine "which" is` speeincauy illustrated for thepurpose o f showing the `irlvention is, in generaLof conventional lcharacter and only so much of.. the machine is illustrated asis necessaryfor a clear understanding of the invention. The machinecomprises an elongated Irotary needle cylinder 2, rotated through the Vmedium of a ring gear 4, which cylinder is provided withfthe usualslotsV 6 for the reception of needles and `'other associated parts. The needles are of the usual latch type land are provided with butts I0 and Vshoulder-s I2 located, as illustrated, above the butts. In order` to producer reverse plating, the upper ends of the needles are adapted toY be lexedinwardly, while at the sameV time, as

is desirable, the lower ends of kthe needles are anoutwardly extending shoulder` l1 and engages the needle at two locations; above vand below the shoulder I4 `atll and 20 respectively, the inner. edge ofthe presser being cut away between these places. 'Each presser is adapted to rest upon the shoulder l2 of theneedle at' proper times as later described and is provided with a butt 22which maybe engaged by a suitable cam which causes the presser tol move downwardly. When 'the presser is in its uppermost position, spring bands 24 of the variety usually used for holding ,needles within their slots, engage the pressers above and below outward projections indicated at 26. The projection associated with each presser by en` gagement betweenV the spring bands serves to yieldingly retain the presser in its uppermost position. The presser may, however, be Vforcibly moved downwardly by engagement of a cam with its butt so that both of the spring bands may be above the projection 26 as indicated for example in Fig. 9.

Rotating outside the needle circle in the usual fashion is the sinker dial 28 in which the sinkers 30 are guided for their usual inward and outward movements between the needles by suitable cams, this action occurring in conventional fashion. Slidable in suitable slots in the sinker dial are jacks 32 which are aligned with the needle slots so that each of them on its inward'movement may engage the shoulder I1 of a presser if the presser occupies its raised position. In this case the jack may move the presser suiilciently inwardly to cause the upper end of the needle to be deflected inwardly and thus produce reverse plating. However, if the presser is in its lower position, then inward movement of the jack corresponding thereto will move above the shoulder |1 and will be ineffective to deflect the needle. Each jack is provided with a plurality of butts 34 in the present embodiment of the invention, although, as will be described later, it is sometimes necessary to provide only a single butt, the butts not being used in general for selectivity in the production of designs. The various jacks are lightly held inwardly by the use of a spring band 36 which, however, does not exert upon them such force as would cause them to deflect the needles.

Located in the needle slots below the needles are intermediate jacks 38 provided with butts 40, While below these intermediate jacks are located lower tilting jacks 42 whose inner edges are so formed as to provide a pivot 44 about which, as a horizontal axis, the jacks may rock. At their lower ends the jacks 42 are provided with shoulders 46 adapted to engage cams, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out. The jacks are also provided below their pivots with butts 48 which may be selectively arranged for the purpose of producing patterns. The jacks may be supplied, for example, containing a full complement of butts which may be selectively broken out in order to provide the necessary setup for a desired pattern.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is disclosed the layout of cams arranged to act upon the needles, jacks 32, the butts of the pressers, and the intermediate and lower jacks 38 and 42. The needle stitch cams are of the usual variety and comprise the upper center cam 50 and the usual stitch drawing cams 52 and 54, the former of which serves to draw the needles downwardly during rotary knitting.

Cooperating with the lower jacks there are an upper cam 56 designed to rock the lower ends of the jacks outwardly, and a series of lower cams 60 and 62 designed to rock the lower ends of the jacks inwardly. All of these cams are formed as levers and will be referred to hereafter. The lowermost of the cams designed to rock the jacks inwardly is designated differently from the others, since it performs a somewhat different function.

In advance of the cams 60 there is located a fixed cam 58 which is designed to engage the shoulders 46 on the lower jacks and cause them to rise to a predetermined level before they reach the location of the cams 00. This action insures a proper vertical alignment between the butts 0n the jacks and the various corresponding cams 60. There is also provided in a position following the cams 60 a cam 66 having an upward slope 64 on which the shoulder v46 of such of the jacks 42 as have their lower ends extending outwardly may ride whereby such jacks will be raised. A slope 68 provided on the cam 66 serves to rock the lower ends of the jacks inwardly and thus disengage them from the top level of the cam 66. A guard cam 10 is provided to prevent possibility of damage to the jacks during reciprocation and limit their downward movements.

A cam 12 is provided designed to engage the butts 22 of raised pressers so as to depress all of the press-ers at its position. This is to prepare the pressers for a subsequent selection.

Cams 14 and 16 are respectively designed to raise and vlower needles by engagement with their butts |0 ifor purposes which will hereafter become apparent. The lower action of cam 16 is continued by the usual guard cam 18. A ring of cams indicated at 8| serves to maintain the intermediate jacks within their slots. A cam face on the lower portion of this series is adapted to engage the butts 40 of the intermediate jacks to lower them and with them the lower jacks 42.

Levers 82 and 84 are provided to act upon the butts of the horizontal sliding jacks 32. A cam 86 is provided to raise the-needles to a desired level. It may be noted that the loops on selected needles clear the latches just prior to cam 14 and the loops on unselected needles clear the latches thereof at cam 54,

The layout of cams having been described, there will now be referred to their controlling means. The cams 82 and 84 have identical operating devices indicated in Fig. 4. These cams are formed on the ends of levers which are pivoted at 88 and are provided with tails 90 carrying cam surfaces 93 held in engagement with actuating ends of levers 94 by springs 92. Each of the levers 94 is provided with an elongated slot 06 receiving a vertical pin 98 and is urged by an individual spring |02 into engagement with an adjustable fixed stop screw |00. By this arrangement, as will be obvious, there is provided a fine adjustment of the position of the levers 94 and hence of the positions of the cam ends 82 and 84. Very fine adjustment is here necessary, in View of the fact that such adjustment determines the extent to which ne gauge needles may be deflected inwardly, which should be to contact with the bottom of the needle slot as mentioned above without strain on the needles by too much deflection. Each ofr the levers 94 is connected by a link |04 to a lever |06. The levers |06 are secured to nested vertically extending shafts which carry at their lower ends cam following levers |08 engageable under the action of springs |02 with suitable controlling cams ||0 on the main cam drum which is stepped about under chain control during the operation of the machine in the usual fashion. The butts of the jacks 32 lie approximately in the circle indicated at ||2, while the needle circle is indicated, for comparison, at ||4. The cams 14 and 16 are moved radially together and are carried by a sliding plunger ||6 guided in a xed portion of the machine and urged outwardly by a spring IIB into engagement with an adjustable stop screw |20 carried by the end of a lever |22 which is urged counterclockwise, as viewed in plan, by a spring |24 stronger than the spring I8.

The cam 12 is carried by a similar plunger |26 urged outwardly by a spring |28. The plunger |26 is moved inwardly at the proper time by a clockwise movement of a cam |30 on a lever |32. The levers |22 and |32 are mounted upon vertically extending nested shafts which, at their lower ends, carry cam following levers |36 and |38 engageable with suitable cams I40carried by the pattern drum `I I I. l Y Control of the `carns-illpwhich are formed as levers pivoted at I4I, is'effected by the.v action `upon tails thereofnof tricks carried by a trickwheel |42, These tricks, which are receivable in slots in the trick-wheel in theusual fashion, are provided with butts whichfmay be" selectively arranged to produce the kdesired vcontrol of the` cams 60; The trick-wheel |44 is stepped about intermittently by the action of a p'awl` |46 which is oscillated `through the medium of a `link |48 bythe lever |50, which rides upon lugs carried by the links of apattern chain |52, which Y is advanced one step upon each revolution of the needleV cylinder. `By-a suitable setup offthe lugs on the pattern chain the trick-wheel maybe advanced upon each revolution ofthe needle cylinder or at less frequent intervals. A guard |54 is provided for: interrupting the advance-of the l, trick-wheel and for securing a setup thereofat the completion of a stocking, this-being eiected as described in the application of Stanley R. Shelmire, Ser. No. 623,057,1led-J1`11y 18,1932.

The cam 56 is formedcn alever which'has a functionally integral but adjustable-extension |56 connected by a link to a lever |58 which is secured to one of a series of Vvertical nested shafts whose lower ends carry cams acted upon by cams l ,l Ifdesired the series of cams 6I) mayoperate in terns in diierent por-tions thereofj--lor example,

besides a usual normal and reverse plated pattern extending throughout the stocking, provi- `sion may be made for the formation of a clock or the like Vextending through only a portion of the design. f'lhe` groups of levers may be'selectively rendered operative or inoperative by control of levers I6Ilwhich engage their rear ends wheel |42l against the' action of the springs I6I.

and pull them away from the tricks on Vthe trick The levers |60 are independently controlled by links I 62 connected to arms on three of the nested shafts `heretofore referred to. f

`The lowermost cam 62, which is also'pivoted at I4I, is controlled by'a connection through a `link |64 to an arm carried by still anotherof the nested shafts. vThe yarns which are to be selectively normal and reverse platedare ted to the needles in conventional fashion, forexa'mple, by being fedthrough individual openingslin a yarn finger 9 forming one of a plurality'adapted to feed the yarns through an opening V II in 'a latchl ring I.` If yarn changes are'to be made,lpairs of yarns are carried by various fingerslwhich may be selectively brought into operationat predetermined times by the usualV yarn changing Ymecha- IllSm. I

The, operations involved'inproducing normal and reverse plating bythe mechanism just described will be readily understood from a consideration primarily of Figs; 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9. In Fig. `3 there are indicated in dotted lines the paths ofr characteristic parts of the various elements asthe needles themselves. For` example, at a and b there are indicated the` alternative 'paths lof the needle butts. At c and d there are indicatedthe alternative paths Vof the butts .22 of the pressers I6. At e and f there Aare indicated 'the alternative indicated at sociated with the needles in the needle slotsand.

`paths o'f v,the shoulders. 46 .ofthe lower jacks 42 and at g andh there are indicated alternative paths of the butts40 ofthe intermediate jacks 38. It will bel noted that through the greater part of the needle lcircle the butts of the needles and intermediate jacks and the shoulders of the lower jacks follow constant paths.

v"Initially, let it be assumed that a needle is to pass through a cycle in one revolution in which it will not be deilected. Starting with the needle slot in a position just prior to the point where the jack therein would be engaged by the cam 56, the corresponding jack will have its lower end located infthe, innerposition. However, as soon as the position of 'the cam 5G is reached, the lower end of the jack -will be thrown outwardly so that it will ride up the cam 58 to a position in which its `butts `would be properly lined up withlltheY actuating cams 60. Since the' needle associated fwith this jack is not to be deflected during the next stitch forming operation, one of the butts of the jack will be engaged by a cam 6I] which'` is allowed to `move inwardly by the action of the trick-wheel so that the lower end of the jack will be located in a position wherein it will not engage thecam 64. Asa consequence,

the shoulder 46 of the jackj willfollow the path indicated at e. VDuring the rising movement over the cam 58 the jack 42 will have slightly raised its jack 38, whosebutt will follow thepath indicated at g. The intermediate jack,V however, will not have been raised to'a sulicient extent to engage the needle. f

Ifin the precedingrevolution of the needle cylinderV thepresser I6 has been raised,` then as it reaches the location of the cam 'I2 its butt would be lengaged thereby with the result that the presser would be depressed to an extent bringing its shoulder I'I below the level of the radially sliding jack32. ,The butt 22 of the presser will thereafter follow thepath c.

Since `the needlewas not engaged'by the intermediate jack, its butt will move at the level a passing under thefcam H14. Thereafter it will pass through the usual knitting wave but will not be deiiected, since although one of the cams 82 or 84 will move thev jack32 inwardly, the end of this jack will pass above the shoulder I'I without engaging the presser I6.

It will be noted that the intermediate jack will beengaged and slightly depressed by the action of the cam 89j, forcing the lower vjack downwardly to a corresponding extent.

The above `describes the series of operations involved inthe manipulation of the parts associated with the needle vwhich is not deflected. Ihere will -now be' described a similar series of events in connection with a needle which is to be delected to produce a reverse plated stitch.

Again, an outer position of the shoulder 46 of fthe lower jack isin'sured by the action of Y the cam 56 andthe jack consequently rides upwardly due to the'action of the cam 5B into position" wherein its butts are aligned with the various cams 60. VIn this case, however, none of the cams will engage any of the butts and therefore asthe jack approaches the cam 64 its shoulderwill engage the ca1n`and will `follow the path As the lower jack moves-upwardat b. Prior to this, if the presser had been in upperposition, it would be depressed by the action of the cam l2. As the needle rises as indicated at b, its shoulder I2 will'engage the presser, moving it upwardly so that its butt will follow the pathindicated at d, with the shoulder il now aligned with the jack 32. Immediately after raising the presser, the needle is depressed by the cam 'I6 and later by the guard cam T8, whereupon it passes through the knitting cams inthe conventional wave. As the stitch is being drawn, the needle will now be deflected by reason of the engagement of the shoulder I'l of the presser by the jack 32. In view of the formation of the presser, the needle is engaged both above and below the shoulder I4, and consequently deection takes place without any tendency of the lower end of the needle to move outwardly from the slot. The deflection of the needle during the stitch drawing operation serves to effect reverse plating in the well known fashion.

From the above it will be obvious that the proper preselection of elements insures the production of eithernormal or reverse plating in the next stitch drawing operation. It is to be noted that the action ofthe cams is somewhat negative in the sense that reverse plating is effected when none of the cams engages a lower jack.

It is frequently desirable to interrupt the formation of patterns in order to knit what is known as a plain sole. If the sole needles are associated with jacks provided with butts in alignment with the cam 62, then if this camis caused to be continuously in operative position during the formation of the foot portion of the stocking, normal plated knitting will be effected on the sole needles. At the same time, selective actuation of the jacks associated with instep needles may proceed as in the knitting of the leg, the jacks associated with these latter needies having the butts capable of cooperating with the cam t2 removed.

Alternatively the Yproduction or non-production of reverse plating may be controlled by a selection of cams 82 and 84 cooperating with a predetermined arrangement of butts 34 on the jacks 32. Usually, however, both of these cams may be continuously operated or,` if desired, only one need be provided. They may, however, be used not only for producing a plain sole or similar wide band of normal plating, but may be associated with a predetermined setup of butts on the jacks and selectively controlled to effect the production of a checked design on which may be superimposed the more elaborate patterns effected by control of the lower jacks. In view of the fact that the control of the lower jacks is primarily depended upon for production of patterns, it is usually unnecessary to provide any large number of butts 34. However, if desired, more than two of these may be used, the selection then proceeding along the lines of my prior application referred to above in addition to that accomplished through the medium of the lower jacks.

The various cams l2, 14, 16, 82 and 84 are made movable primarily for withdrawal during heel and toe knitting and also for purposes of leveling and transfer, the movability of cams 82 and 3i! being provided to prevent the deflection of needles during the transfer operation in addition to their movability, if desired, for selectivity. L

It will be observed from the above that there is 'provided a method and machine whereby selectivity of a high degree may be attained for the production of very elaborate patterns. This is due not only to the provision of multiple butt jacks 42,but also to the groupings of the cams 60 whereby any one of a plurality of groups may be 'rendered active to control the jacks. Additionally, as pointed out above, control may be achieved through selective action of cams upon the jacks 32l which actuate the pressers. The trick-wheel, furthermore, need not be stepped about uniformly, but an irregular motion may be imparted thereto by the proper setup of the chain |52. An enormous variety of patterns can thus be achieved with a compact patterning means of simple form so that setup for the production of any desired pattern is readily effected.

It will be clear that Various changes in the specific embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof as dened in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches, elements individually associated with at least certain of said needles and slidable in said cylinder into alternative positions, means cooperating with the elements at one location in the formation of a course whereby needles may be selectively deflected dependent upon the positions of the elements associated therewith, and means acting at a prior location to selectively slide said needles to thereby effect selective positioning of said elements.

2. A circular knitting machine including a slotted needle cylinder, needles slidable in these slots of said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles fory the formation of stitches, slidable pressers associated with at least certain of said needles and carried by theV needle cylinder, radially slidable members arranged to engage pressers by inward movements when the pressers are located in proper position to effect deflection of the needles associated therewith, and means for moving needles associated with pressers at a prior location whereby the pressers associated therewith may be selectively positioned, said last named means including jacks movable in the needle slots below the needles, and means for selectively actuating said jacks. 3. A circular knitting machine including a slotted needle cylinder, needles slidable in the slots in said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches, vertically slidable pressers individually associated with at least certain of said needles and carried by the needle cylinder, radially slidable members arranged tovengage pressers by inward movements when the pressers are raised whereby said pressers are caused to deflect their needles, said radially slidable members failing to engage pressers in lowered position, and jacks movable in the needle slots below the needles and adapted to position said pressers.

4. A circular knitting machine including a slotted needle cylinder, needles slidable in the slots in said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches, vertically slidable pressers individually associated with at least certain of said needles and carried by the needle cylinder, radially slidable members arranged to engage pressers by inward movements when theV pressers are raised wherebyY said Y 2,134,479 l pressers are caused to deiect their needles, said radially slidable. members failing to .engage pressersin lowered position, intermediate jacks slidable in the needle slots below the needles,

lower-y jacks slidable and .also pivotable inthe needle .slots below the intermediate jacks,.said

lower jacks beingl provided `with suitably, arranged raiseflower jacks .whichv are ,not rocked bythe l last `mentioned cams .wherebythey raise the in- ,termediatejacka needles and pressers associated therewith, so that the needles are defiected'by the pressers., i 5,. A- circular knitting machine 'including a slotted needlecylinder,` needlesslidable in the slots in said` cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for; the formation ofstitches, vertically slidable pressers individually associated with at least certain of said needles and carried by the needle cylinder, means arranged to engage pressersto move them inwardly when the pressers are raised whereby said pressers are caused to deflect the needles, said means failing to engage pressers in lowerv position, and means actingl upon the needles to Vcause them to position the pressers at a point Vprior to that at whichthe presser engaging means acts`- 30,?,

6, A circular knittingV machine including a needle cylinder, needles Vslidablein saidcylinder, means, cooperating with the needles for the formationof the stitches, elements individually associated with at least certain of said needles and movable into alternative positions, means .cooperating with the elements at onev location in the formation of `a course whereby needles may be selectively deflected dependent upon .the position ofthe elements associated therewith, meansl at a prior location for causing all of said elements to assume Ya predetermined position,V means for Y selectively raising needles at an intermediate `plurality of'. yarns to acircular Series of needles,

location to thereby selectively position `said elements, and means for ,thereafterV causing Asaid needles. to pass through their usualknitting wave.

'7. Themethod of producing selective reverse plating by needle deflectionincludng feedingA a and moving said needles to produce stitches, act- 50' ing upon elements individually associated with Yat leastrcertain of said needles to cause them to selectively deflect the needles dependent upon their position, and selectively positioningsaid elements at aprior location by causing selective movements of needles thereat.

8. The method of producing selective reverse plating by needle deection including feeding a plurality of yarns to a circular series of needles and moving said Yneedles to produce stitches, acting upon elements individually associated with atleast certain of said needles to cause them to selectively deflect the needles dependentj upon their position, and selectively positioning said elements ata prior locationby causing selective movements of those needles which are to bedee 753" tion of the elements, Yand means for selectively moving needles at a prior location to thereby eiect selective positioning of `Said elements.

`10. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, elements individually associated with at least certain of said needles and movable into alternative `positions, means cooperating with the elements adjacent the yarn feeding position to effect the production of various characters of stitches depending upon the position of the elements, means at a prior location for causing all of said elements to assume a predetermined. position, and means for selectively! moving needles at an intermediate location-to thereby effect selective positioning of said elements.

11. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means for feeding a plurality of yarns to the needles,elements individually associated with atA least certain of said needles and movable into alternative positions, means cooperating with the elements adjacent the position Where yarns are being drawn to form loops toeifect the production `of normal or reverse plating depending upon the position of the elements, and means for selectively moving needles at a prior location to thereby effect selective positioning of said elements. Y

12. lAcircular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means for feeding a plurality of lyarns toV the needles, elements individually associated with at leastcertain of said needles and movable into alternative positions, means cooperating with the elements adjacent. the position where yarns are being drawn to form loops to effect the production of normal or reverse plating depending upon the position of the elements, means at a prior locationl for causing all of said elements to assume a predetermined position, and means for selectively moving needles at an intermediate location to thereby eiect selective positioning of said Velements.

13. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means for feeding a plurality of yarns to the needles, elements individually associated with at least certainof said needles and movable into alternative positions, means cooperating with the elements adjacent the position where yarns are being drawn to form loops to effect the production of normal or reverse plating depending upon the position of the elements, means at a prior location for causing all of said elements to assume a predetermined position, means for selectively moving needles at an intermediate location to thereby effectiselective positioning `of said elements, 'and means for thereafter causing said needles to pass through their usual knitting wave.

14. A circular knitting machine including a` needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder,

yarnfeeding means, jacks individually associatedV with at least certain of the needles, means for imparting movements relative to the needle cylinder to at least certain of saidjacks during the formation of all of certain courses, independently movableelements associated with the jacks, and

yarn feedingmeanarmeans operative adjacent the yarn feeding means toV effect the production of various characters of stitches, means for selectively positioningneedles at a prior location to affect the second named means to determine the character of stitchesto be produced, means for thereafter causing said needles to pass through their usual knitting wave, and means for operating the second named means at the point where the needles pass through their knitting wave to thereby effect the production of stitches of the character predetermined.

16. A circular knitting machine including a slotted needle cylinder, needles slidable in the slots of said cylinden, means cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches, elements associated with at least certain of said needles adapted to be acted upon at the stitch drawing position to effect selective production of various characters of stitches, and means for selectively moving needles in advance of the stitch drawing position to position their associated elements to later effect said selective stitch production.

17. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, pressers associated with at least certain of said needles, means for moving pressers radially at one point to flex needles after the pressers are located in one of a plurality of alternative axially differentiated positions, and pattern mechanism for selectively so positioning the pressers at a prior point.

18. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, pressers associated with at least certain of said needles, means for moving pressers radially to flex needles at the yarn feed point after the pressers are located in one of a plurality of alternative axially differentiated positions, and pattern mechanism for selectively so positioning the pressers prior to the yarn feeding point,

19. The method of producing selective reverse plating by needle deflection including feeding a plurality of yarns to a circular series of needles and moving said needles to produce stitches, operating relatively to the needle cylinder, in the formation of every course involving reverse plating, jacks associated with at least certain of said needles, and selectively movingpressers .interposed between said jacks and needles into'operative or inoperative positions with respect to said jacks prior to said operation of the jacks to effect selective deflection of the needles by the pressers through said operation of the jacks.

20. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches, jacks associated with at least certain of said needles, means for operating at least certain of said jacks relatively to the needle cylinder in the formation of every course involving reverse plating, pressers interposed between said jacks and needles, and pattern meansffor selectively positioning said pressers in operative or inoperative positions with respect to said jacks prior to said operation of the jacks to effect selective deflection of the needles by the pressers through said operation of the jacks.

2l. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, jacks associated with at least certain of said needles said jacks being continuously operated at the knitting point, pressers individual to the needles `slidable into alternative active and inactive positions relative to the jacks, said pressers being interposed between the jacks and their respective needles so that when the pressers are in one of said positions the jacks in their operation will impart a needle flexing movement through the pressers, and pattern means to selectively cause the pressers to be placed in said alternative active or inactive positions relative to their jacks.

22. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, pressers associated with at least certain of said needles, said pressersbeing slidable in the needle slots outside the needles into alternative positions and being arranged to eX the needles inwardly, jacks carried by the needle cylinder and arranged to engage the pressers only when the pressers are in one position to cause the pressers to flex their respective needles, and pattern mechanism for selectively locating the pressers in position to be so engaged by the jacks.

23. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, elements individually associated with at least certain of said needles, slidable in the needle slots, and movable into alternative axially differentiated positions, means adjacent the yarn feeding position mechanically cooperating with the elements to effect the production of various characters of stitches depending upon the position vof the elements, and means for so selectively alternatively positioning the elements at a point prior to the yarn feeding position to determine what will occur thereat.

24. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, elements individually associated with at least certain of said needles, slidable in the needle slots, and movable into alternative axially differentiated positions, means adjacent the yarn feeding position mechanically cooperating with theelements, while they remain axially fixed, to effect the production of various characters of stitches depending upon the position of the elements, and means for so selectively alternatively positioning the elements at a point prior to the yarn feeding position to determine what will occur thereat.

25. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, yarn feeding means, elements individually asso- 'ciated with at least certain of said needles, slidable in the needle slots, and movable into alternative axially differentiated positions, radially movable members individually associated with the elements, means for radially moving said members in the formation of each course so as to effect the production of variousI characters of stitches depending upon the position of the elements, and means for so selectively alternatively positioningthe elements at a point prior to the yarn feeding position to determine what will occur thereat.

26. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder, means cooperating with the needles for the for- Vmation of stitches, slidable pressers associated ing needles associated with pressers to selectively position the pressers prior to the point Where pressers may beengaged by said radially slidable members.

27. A circular Vknitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles slidable in said cylinder,

yarn feeding means, pressers associated with at means for selectively moving needles to selectively 5 so position pressers at a prior point.

' WILBUR L. HOUSEMAN. 

